Montrail FluidFlex 2

I have to say these are one of my favorite shoes. They are light, responsive and of course flexible! I have run a lot in both Hoka's and Salomon Slab Sense and these fit that sweet spot right in between. They have good cushion but not to much. And while I haven't tried the first FluidfFlex I have heard these are a good improvement.

Upper:

(Achilles hugger) 

The upper is one of my favorite parts about this shoe. Its comfortable, breathable, but above all it fits the foot super snugly. I always felt secure in it and was never worried about my feet slipping around. But the best part about the upper may have to be the two ankle pads that squeeze you Achilles, I have taken to calling them Achilles huggers. These things are so so comfortable! They hold your heel tightly and feel amazing! My one little complaint is that the laces come almost together at the top, which can be a bummer because you can't tighten the shoe beyond that. Oh did I mention that they are a pretty good looking shoe as well.

Midsole:

(simple two part upper)

This is where the shoe's really excel. As I said before the shoe is that sweet spot between the max cushion of the Hoka's and minimal cushion of the Salomons. And it is made out of the fluid foam which lasts a long time and is responsive! Also as the name states they are flexible! you can bend and turn these any which way with ease. Mainly due to the grooves cut into the mid/outsole. This does lead me to one of my dislikes though. Little rocks and thorns get stick into the grooves. Its not a big deal, you don't really notice it but it does happen which is unfortunate. And my final point on the midsole is that for the most technical, rocky terrain they are a bit soft.

Outsole:

(Gryptonite outsole)

Pretty standard outsole made out of Montrails Gryptonite. It is a fairly durable sticky outsole that can grip to most surfaces. It is made out of little squares that although not to deep can grip pretty decently on all but the worst mud. The lugs are starting to wear down a little bit after about 200 ish miles. But not significantly. The one problem is that since it is not a full length outsole and it doesn't have a rock plate really rocky trails can be a bit dangerous.

Overall these are a fantastic shoe that I have worn on all surfaces and for the most part loved! I wore them during the Run Through Time Half Marathon that had mud, rocky trail, jeep road, and road. They worked perfectly I managed to place 3rd overall and had no feet problems. A few of my problems with the shoe (To soft of midsole, and no rock plate) have been solved with the Montrail FluidFlex ST. This shoe has a firmer midsole in the midfoot and a rock plate in the forefoot. The ST does not replace the Fluidflex 2 but rather goes along side it. I think that was a smart move on Montrail's part. So if you are looking for a light shoe that works well on any trail check these out!
Technical Stuff
Weight: 8.0 oz
Midsole: 22 mm, 17mm
Offset: 5mm

(On my way to 3rd Place at the Run Through Time Half Marathon in my FluidFlex 2)

La Sportiva Vertical K

The La Sportiva Vertical K is a fantastic shoe. It weighs in at only 7.0 ounces but has a plush amount of cushion. I mostly have only good things to say and only a few bad things. And not only is the shoe fantastic but so is the company that makes the shoe. La Sportiva is as most of you know a climbing/mountaineering company. And they make really high end products. There mountain running department is no exception. And one of the best parts is they are a dedicated trail running company. But enough talk about the company and onto the shoe.

The upper: Fairly snug with a surprisingly wide toebox. The Upper on the Vert’ K is interesting, it is not a normal looking shoe. The upper has some sort of lace sleeve. I does keep out the dirt and small rocks while running. But besides that it seems kind of like extra weight? The tongue is a burrito tongue. And this is one of the few shoes that the burrito tongue style really works. My only complaint with the upper is that it seemed to loosen up as I ran. Its a simple fix but I do wish that it didn't happen.  
 

The Midsole: The Vertical K offers a well cushioned plush midsole that works great for almost any terrain. The cushioning on the shoe is really comfortable, it is pretty soft but not overly so. Because of that it makes comfortable on roads and technical mountain trail. The shoe is made to be a racing shoe and you really do feel fast with it on. My only complain with the midsole is that it doesn't have a rock plate, making it tough to bomb as fast as you can down technical trail (La Sportiva recently released the Helios SR which is similar to the Vert' K but with a rock plait). But like I said besides that it is a great midsole.

The outsole: This is where La Sportiva's climbing background really works well in this shoe. The outsole doesn't have super beefy lugs but because of the outsole configuration and super sticky rubber it is able to handle anything from mud to wet rock. Once again I have one complaint. The outsole is not very durable. I have to pairs of Vertical K's and the older ones lugs are very worn down after not tons of use. But it is understandable because of how sticky the rubber is.

Overall its a super fun shoe to run in and because of how light it is it makes a perfect racing shoe. I also have to say that if you forget your rock climbing shoes on a climbing trip these make a great backup. I climbed my best route (5.12a) in them! I am excited to see what La Sportiva keeps introducing into the running world!

Salomon S-Lab Sense Ultra 3 SG

And Salomon has done it again! The leading brand in everything mountain running, has once again created the best shoe of its class. A light weight minimal trail/mountain beast! I have climb 11, 14'ers, and many 11,000-13,000 foot peaks in this shoe throughout the summer multiple races, and just about everything in between. I think in total I have put about 700 miles on this shoe. And ultimately it was the best shoe that I have ever used.

Upper: On of the reasons I liked this shoe so much was the upper. Combine the socklike fit that the sense range is known for with mesh that lets air but not dirt in, and you have super comfort. The upper is pretty durable to. It started to rip a little near my big toe after about 450 miles but hasn't increased much. And lets be honest thats a badass colorway. Overall I just really like the upper.

Midsole:
Not much change from previous models in this shoe for the midsole. It is still a minimal-ish amount of cushion with a light weight flexible rock plate. It has quite enough to get you through a full day of running.

Outsole: The outsole is the reason I bought this shoe. I needed something that could get me up any mountain. From a snowy may ascent of Humboldt Peak, to a technical ascent with rock climbing of the Whetterhorn. Obviously I picked the right shoe because it never failed me. And the outsole has been worn down to much.


Overall this is just one rad shoe that should be on every mountain runners shoe rack. It is a lot of fun tearing down a technical single track knowing that the pair of shoes you have on won't slow you down. I will definitely be getting a pair of the new version when it comes out.

The North Face Endurance Challenge San Francisco 50K: Bad Race Beautiful Place

      I had been training for this race for the last couple of months and felt strong and ready. I was felling strong because I had run the 40 mile Telluride Mountain Run, a few months before. And I felt fast because I had run a 16:59 5k at elevation. So between those I knew I was ready.
      To start of the trip we drove down to Albuquerque. The first thing we did when we got there was go to REI. Where I checked out the Hoka One One Challenger, and bought some things for the race. The next day we flew out to Reno, NV to check out Rope Works, and stay with some friends. After we saw Rope Works I got out for a run on some incredible trails. The next day was I trip to Mill Valley. I was siked! I had felt great on my run and knew that I was ready! Before we got to Mill Valley we had to stop in San Fran to pick up my race packet. But when we came back from getting it (it took us about 10 minutes) our car was gone! It had gotten towed! Luckily we got a ride to pick it up. All of that shook me up but I decided to put it out of my mind so I could concentrate on the race. That night we went for another run on a hill that was on the course. During that run I felt great running 8 minute miles easily. I knew I was ready.
      On race morning I put on my shoes and race outfit, and drove out to the start. But despite having good training it was not to be my day. The first hill running 9 minute miles felt terrible. I started to get pissed! This was supposed to be my day! My race! What was happening?! My training was as good as it gets! So once I got over the fact that it wasn't my day I decided just to enjoy myself. I looked at the bay, the ocean, and the rest of the course. The first aidstation I saw my dad was 9 miles and right after a nice downhill. So coming into that I felt like maybe I could get back into race mode. So I refueled and set off again. Well maybe I couldn't get back into race mode. After I left the aidstation I felt terrible.
      Well I was back to just enjoying the scenery. The miles went by quickly but painfully. And finally I got to the next aidstation. And just as I was leaving I saw Ellie Greenwood cheering me on. Which gave me a boost. The next section of the course was crazy! It was practically a slip'n'slide, a river, something almost unrunnable. And I was still feeling bad. Coming down that and running back to the aidstation where my dad was went by in a very painful,  blister, and cramping, blur. Coming into that aidstation with only 5 miles to go I was toast. But I got a hug from Anna Frost! So for the rest of the 5 miles I just toughed it out. Once I got to the finish I was elated because I was done with one of the hardest races I have ever done, but I had also just finished one of the most amazing courses I have had the pleasure of running on. And I got to meet and talk to some of the best runners in the world. And I got to watch my friend Dakota Jones get second in the highly competitive 50 mile race.
It was a great learning experience and lots of fun.
     Thank you to all the volunteers and The North Face for putting on such an incredible race! I will be back next year!

     I place 72nd overall and 2nd in my age group with a time of 5;23.

                                                                                                                                                                    

Hokas One One Clifton

If your looking for a lightweight, highly cushioned, no nonsense shoe, look no further. I truly think that Hoka struck gold with both this and the Huaka (review coming). I have put in a lot of miles, both fast and slow. And man did it impress me. So here goes the review.
                                                                             Upper


(Photo cred: Competitor Magazine)

I think that this is where Hoka really made a fantastic upper. It's lightweight, breathable, and stretchy. I can see how they took off around 3 ounces from all their previous shoes. But the upper is also where I found the most issues. It is a bit narrow. Not overly so, but enough to cause a tad bit of discomfort. But most Hoka's I have tried are bit to narrow. Why can't Hokas release wider shoes? Well I have one more dislike. The overlays started to come off the upper much to early. And I thought that it could be
 a big discomfort or fit problem. But honestly when I was running it didn't affect anything.


                                                                        Midsole
Fantastic. I am sorry there is nothing wrong with the midsole. It's light, fluffy, and surprisingly springy. I almost wish there was something wrong with it, for the sake of the review. When running uphill it launches you and when you run downhill you feel no impact. Bottom line flawless.

                                                                        Outsole
Just a basic road outsole. Some rubber but mostly exposed midsole EVA. There are no lugs making it a road only shoe. But it works on wet, dry, and dirt roads perfectly. And after 300+ miles there is very little to no wear.

                                                           Conclusion/final thoughts
This is a road shoe. And the only problem with this is I am above all a trail runner. But luckily for me and many other Clifton loving trail runners Hokas is releasing the Hokas One One Challenger, a trail version of the Clifton. I got to check it out at REI today and I must say it was love at first sight. Alright this is the best road shoe I have worn flat out. And soon I will be releasing a review of the Hoka Huaka, another great lightweight shoe from Hoka.

Telluride Mountain Run!

          I said it last year and I will say it again this is hands down the best race that I have gotten to run. Maybe its because it has the coolest race directors or its because in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Last year I did the Hill Climb (5 miles up and 5 down on on Telluride ski slopes) last year, this year I decided to go for the big 38 mile run. Between the uphills where I was cursing the RDs Reese and Dakota and the quad destroying downhills it was a spectacular day in the mountains. A short description of the course would be. Five giant climbs and five giant downhills for a total elevation change of around 28,000.
         I felt good on the first climb and descent, the day was still cool and I was eating and drinking well. The second Climb my body started to fall apart and I was starting to have problems with food and any calories for that matter. I started to get better on the 7.5 mile downhill but that was short lived as we soon started climbing one of the biggest climbs of the day. By this point it was already super hot out and food wouldn't go down. so for about 8 miles I just suffered through and once I got through those 8 miles of pain I got to the aid station at mile 25 and was able to eat and drink a little bit. From there I felt good and ran along all the way to about mile 32 where the final climb begins. This was by far the toughest part of the race for me because of the eat and only being able to get in a few calories. But once I started the downhill and knew I was almost there I got sorta of revived and ran the downhill as hard as my tired legs would let me. It was such a great feeling to cross that finish line in 14th overall and sit down.
        Thanks again Reese and Dakota for making this race so much fun.

Leadville Trail Heavy Half. Try number 2

         I will start off by saying even though I didn't have the race I wanted I still had a fun great race and came away with 13th overall (last year I was 30th overall.)
         Sometimes I have nightmares where I will be midway through a race and suddenly my legs stop working and all I can do is watch my competitors run away while all I can do is stand there. Later you will understand why I mention this. Anyways the morning of there race I tell my dad about these nightmares and say that luckily I hadn't had them last night.
         Now in the actual race I started upfront and the early pace felt much easier than last year (not at all like my nightmares) so I was feeling very confident especially since the day before my dad and I had run the technical part of the course and I was able to all out sprint the very very rocky old jeep road easily on the downhill. For the first 4.5 miles the race was just on road and was all just a blur, It went kind of like I am in 3 place now 4th now 3rd again "hey there's my dad". Then we got to the fun part. I was an 4th place at the start of the big climb to mosquito pass and felt amazing. So I just started chugging up it. I was eventually passed by two people but it didn't matter because I could tell they weren't in my age group. But I could look down and see two kids that looked my age just a couple minutes behind. But I wasn't worried because once we got to the downhill thats where I would really be able to do well. Finally I could practically smell the top and I was sitting in a comfortable 8th place. But this is when everything starts to go wrong. My quads start to get a weird feeling as a summit mosquito pass with a kid obviously under 19 close behind. And as I start the very technical downhill the section where I usually shine my legs just stop working! Just like in my nightmares. And just like in my nightmares I watch competitor after competitor fly by while I can't even walk. So I am sitting up there punching and stretching my legs for minutes while 3 kids clearly in my age group are flying down the hill. But finally all my punching seems to work and I am able to start down the hill at a snails pace but slowly getting faster. I than suddenly they work fully and I start passing people and just trying to make up time. And right when we hit an aid station I am able to pass one kid in my age group putting me back on the podium. Alright now the cramps and the non working legs are starting to come back. To bad to I was having such a fun time on the downhill. soon I am at aid station "B" only 4.5 miles from the finish and in 12 overall 3rd in my age group. Then there is a blur and I am at aid station "A 1/2"  only 3 downhill miles to the finish but unfortunately my legs seize up again so I have to start off slow and have intense pain. But unlike the earlier cramps these wouldn't go away so I just had to grin and bare it. So I still wasn't going my full pace and I knew it was only a matter of time till I was passed. Than of course with a mile left I was passed by a kid in my age group and all I could do was watch while he ran away. The last 1/2 mile of asphalt felt like it took years but I was finally able to cross the finish line in 13th overall and 4th in my age group. Also all 3 kids that beat me in my age group were 16.
           Now I know what my nightmares fell like in real life and I now know that you get very sore after running 7.5 miles down hill on clenched muscles. Although my race did not go as planned I still did a lot better than last year and I learned a lot. Next year I will be looking to try again at this tough race.